Through his music and message, Christian singer Matt Maher says his goal is to help people realize the importance of connecting with a local church and being encouraged by a community of believers.
“There’s no greater sound than hearing worshipers singing praises to God,” Maher told The Alabama Baptist. “When a song engages an entire room of people, it has the ability to pull everybody together in a way that nothing else does.
“That is my favorite thing to experience, because God is in the midst of it all. My prayer is that these songs will be used to connect people to the message of the gospel.”
For Maher, ministering to young adults is especially important because of his own life experiences during those years.
“Many times, people don’t really understand what it means to follow Christ and live for Him,” Maher acknowledged. “I think that too often people slip away from attending church regularly, because they have this lackadaisical behavior about their faith.
“In the span of like a month, my whole life changed. When I was 20 years old my parents were going through a divorce, and my cousin reached out and invited me to church. For the first time, I had people my age who were welcoming me into church and helping me to realize the importance of having a relationship with Jesus.”
‘Standard of the cross’
After graduating from Arizona State University with a degree in jazz performance, Maher began leading worship at events.
“When I was in college I had some opportunities and times where I considered dropping out of school to pursue music full time,” he remembered. “But I realized the best way to honor God during that time would be to stay in school and be the best student I could be.
“By waiting and following God’s plan, I learned so many lessons in obedience, faithfulness and simplicity. I also learned that I can’t measure my life to the standard of the world, but I have to measure it by the standard of the cross.”
As doors began opening to lead worship, it didn’t take long before fellow musicians were impressed with Maher’s engaging lyrics and songwriting style.
Maher’s songs known to many churchgoers
In 2004 his song “Your Grace is Enough” started being sung in churches around the country after Chris Tomlin recorded it. Since then, Maher’s songs have been recorded by numerous artists including Crowder, Hillsong, Casting Crowns, We Are Messengers and Brandon Lake, among others.
He also has written a children’s book, “The Advent of Christmas.”
As the writer of praise songs such as “Christ is Risen,” “Lord, I Need You,” “Your Grace is Enough” and “Because He Lives (Amen),” Maher’s work has become a staple of contemporary worship over the past decade and has garnered numerous awards. But those aren’t what motivates him.
“With these songs, we are looking at life through different lenses and sharing that God is most glorified when we rely on Him,” Maher said.
“I think songwriters and artists have a particular calling to see the beauty of God at work around them. Whether you are watching children play, watching a documentary or reading a Scripture, inspiration can strike at any moment. What I’m trying to do through music is make it simple for people to understand why they need Christ as their Savior.”
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